One Day in Sequoia National Park: 7 Can’t-Miss Things to Do
Is one day enough time to spend in Sequoia National Park?
Whether you’re passing through on a road trip or coming in from one of California’s nearby cities, it’s totally possible to see the highlights of Sequoia National Park in one day.
There are some stunning hikes you can take if you stay in the park longer, but if you only have one day to spare in this park, you can still have a full experience seeing the highlights.
Here are the top 7 things to do if you only spend one day in Sequoia National Park.
Sequoia National Park: Know Before You Go
- Check out the National Park Service’s official map of Sequoia National Park to find where each of these things to do are within the park. I’ve listed these activities generally from the south to the north of the park for an efficient route, but you can reorder them for an itinerary that works for you!
- Before you head to the park, check the National Park Service website for current conditions in Sequoia National Park.
- Visiting during a busy time of year? Consider taking the shuttle around Sequoia National Park to save time circling parking lots looking for a spot.
- Many people combine a visit to Sequoia with a trip to the adjacent Kings Canyon National Park. I’d spend at least one day in each park. Here are things to do in Kings Canyon National Park.
7 Can’t-Miss Things to Do in One Day in Sequoia National Park
1. Giant Forest Museum
A great place to start your day in Sequoia National Park is the Giant Forest Museum.
Here, you’ll learn about the park’s giant sequoias before you venture out to see them in real life. This will prepare you to get a sense of just how incredible these trees are and fill you with even more awe and wonder as you walk amongst them throughout the day.
Outside the Giant Forest Museum you’ll see the Sentinel Tree. This giant tree is quite average in size and age for a giant sequoia, reiterating just how ginormous and old these trees are.
Note that the Giant Forest Museum opens at 9am, so if you’re starting your day earlier than that, head to the next spot on this list before you stop in the museum.
2. Big Trees Trail
While you’re parked at the Giant Forest Museum, walk over to the Big Trees Trail.
This mostly level trail loops around a meadow surrounded by giant sequoias.
Along the trail there are signs describing the conditions that make ideal habitat for giant sequoias, which you can observe right before your eyes as you walk around the edge between meadow and forest. It’s a cool way to learn more about the giant sequoia in person rather than in the educational setting of the museum.
Prepare to walk 1.2 miles roundtrip starting and ending at the main parking lot at the Giant Forest Museum. If you need the handicap accessible parking lot at the trailhead, you’ll cut that distance in half since the trail itself is only 0.6 miles.
3. Moro Rock
Although the giant sequoias are the main attraction in Sequoia National Park, there is plenty of other natural beauty in the park.
One must-do activity that is unrelated to sequoias is the climb up Moro Rock.
There are 350 stairs that take you to the top of this granite rock for a roundtrip hike of 0.6 miles and 300 feet of elevation gain.
From the top of Moro Rock you’ll get a panoramic view of the high Sierra and the San Joaquin Valley, though the view begins early into the trek up for a spectacular short climb.
4. Hanging Rock
While you’re parked at Moro Rock, walk a short way down the road to find the path to Hanging Rock.
Although the name sounds like a potentially ominous destination (are we walking out onto a precariously placed rock??), don’t worry. Hanging Rock just offers a pretty view from a safe vantage point.
From Hanging Rock, you’ll see beautiful views similar to what you see to the west from up on Moro Rock. But because the view is not as sweeping as the scene from Moro Rock and because it’s not directly located at the parking lot, Hanging Rock is less crowded than Moro Rock.
The west facing view minus the crowds makes Hanging Rock a good place to watch sunset.
5. Tunnel Log
Ok, so you’ve learned about the giant sequoias and you’ve walked amongst them. But did you know you can also drive through one?
One of the most unique activities you can do in Sequoia National Park is drive through a giant sequoia.
If you’re picturing the famed standing, living tree with a tunnel cut into it, that tree no longer exists (and it wasn’t even in Sequoia National Park to begin with).
Tunnel Log, as the name suggests, is a fallen sequoia that has since had a tunnel carved into it which you can drive through.
The tunnel itself is 8 feet high and 17 feet wide, if your vehicle size is a concern. Even if your vehicle is too large to fit through the tunnel, many people get out of their car to take a picture standing under the tunnel anyway so you won’t completely miss out on this experience.
Consider going to Tunnel Log early in the morning because it can take a long time for your turn to get your pictures when a crowd forms.
6. General Sherman
The General Sherman tree is the main highlight in Sequoia National Park and absolutely cannot be missed on your trip to the park.
Why seek out this tree when there are plenty of giant sequoias in the park? Because General Sherman is the largest tree in the whole world!
General Sherman is the largest tree in the world by volume. It’s 275 feet tall, 36 feet wide at its base, and it weighs 1,385 TONS. That’s massive!
You’ll have to hike in from the parking lot to see this tree. The trail is a mile roundtrip with about 300 feet in elevation gain on the way back up to the parking lot. Note there is a handicap parking lot near the tree if hiking isn’t a possible option for you.
7. Congress Trail
Once you’ve hiked down to General Sherman, you’ll be located amongst a network of trails that wind through the Giant Forest. Walking through the Giant Forest Grove is the best way to get up close to these giant trees in one of the best sequoia habitats in the world.
I recommend taking the Congress Trail. This paved path is only 2 miles long with 200 feet of elevation gain, so it’s a great short option for visitors trying to see Sequoia National Park in one day.
Notable trees you’ll see along the trail include The President, The Senate, The House, and Chief Sequoyah.
Make sure you bring a trail map, even if it’s just a picture of one of the trail signs. There is a network of trails running through the Giant Forest Grove, and although the trails are well labeled, it’s good to have just in case you take a wrong turn somewhere.
Need more help planning your trip? Check out my seven tips to plan a perfect national park trip!
As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.
